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Countryside Conservancy is excited to announce its latest property acquisition, the 420-acre Peck Preserve in Lenox Township, Susquehanna County. This incredible property features a 40-acre lake at the center with massive rock outcroppings and cliffs around the perimeter of the preserve.

Financial assistance for the purchase of the property was provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Bureau of Recreation and Conservation via the "Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund." The sellers discounted the sales price by 50% to provide the match for the DCNR grant, and other related project costs were matched by the Eureka Foundation and the Robert H. Spitz Foundation (administered by the Scranton Area Community Foundation).

The property had been in the Peck Family for three generations dating back to the 1920s. Abigail Peck, on behalf of the sellers, commented, "After decades of wanting to somehow make my mom and dad's dream come true, and honor my grandparent's intent when purchasing this property, of preserving this beautiful place, my family and the Countryside Conservancy have worked together for the last several years to finally make this dream come true!"

Over the next 6-12 months, the Conservancy will be planning and building parking and sustainable hiking and biking trails, but the property is not open to the public until those features are in place. Become a member today to receive updates on the Peck Preserve and to help Countryside do even more of this important work in Lackawanna, Susquehanna and Wyoming counties: https://countrysideconservancy.org/.

Countryside Conservancy is a non-profit land trust dedicated to protecting and connecting greenspace in and near the Tunkhannock Creek Watershed for public benefit now, and for future generations.

Over the month of August, the Great Bend Police Department recorded only 28½ hours total, for all of Great Bend, New Milford and Hallstead. Most of those hours were covered by the Officer in Charge herself, Katie Stanziale. Last month there was talk at the Borough Council meeting of investigating the possibility of a single full-time officer. That didn't come up at this, the September meeting, on the 5th.

Instead, Mayor Jim Riecke called for yet another work session to discuss the police situation, especially with budget season approaching: should the Borough put more money into its police department, hoping to attract more part-time officers? How would New Milford and Hallstead respond with their own budgets looming? Council would have "some pretty tough decisions" to make, said the Mayor.

The meeting actually was actually opened by Solicitor Frank O'Connor, area resident for half a century and decades-long representative of Great Bend Borough. He presented some historical memorabilia that he thought might interest the town, found during cleaning of his notoriously untidy office on Main Street. One item was a record from the school that once stood where the Borough building now stands.

Mr. O'Connor then called for an executive session to discuss one of the properties that Council is considering for condemnation. Following the session, Council voted to spend $2,500 to bring the property to sheriff's sale. The money could eventually be recovered through a lien that would be placed on the property.

There wasn't much other business to conduct this time, but Ms. Stanziale asked Council for a donation for the family of Josh Bourassa – "Trooper Josh" – a New Milford youngster with a fascination for the Pennsylvania State Police. Josh, born with a rare neurological disorder, and given a special escort across the state after treatment in Pittsburgh, died just the day before the Council meeting at the age of 20. Council voted to send $100 to the family.

The next public meeting of the Great Bend Borough Council is scheduled for Thursday, October 3, 2024 beginning at 7:00pm in the Borough building at Elizabeth & Franklin Streets.